New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-06-26
A HINT TO ERASTUS WIMAN
WHY NOT MAKE A RESORT FOR YACHTS
MEM

wATERsIDE FACILITIES NEEDED BY THE CLUBS
DRAWBACKS OF THE SOUND CLUBHOUSE.
I, it not possible that before many weeks have
passed item running something like this will be
seen in the daily papers
Rumor has that Erastus wman, in pursuance of his
plan to make staten Island Gotham's most attractive
basin and erect handsome club for the OF the
members Of the various New York yacht clubs on the
shore or the Bay AZ suitable point between TOmpkins
vile ana Clifton.
OF there Is TO believe that such
scheme has entered Mr.. Wiman's head, but the
publication o. such o paragraph might set him to
thinking of the feasibility OF such venture. Should
he act upon the hint he wosld only receive
aging support in the undertaking from yachtsmen
generally. but would also attract to the island large
contingent of a desirable class Of people.
Odd 1t may seem, the two ri best and best known
yachting CARNATIONS in New-York-the New-York
and Seawanhaka Cornthian clubs have no anchor
ages waterside clubhoises. TIC New-YOrk Club
has been without home by the since il lost its
hoase at Stapeton and the Seawanhaka Club out
grew the pretty little structure at Tompknsvlle and
turned it to its Offspring the Corinthians The
Atlantic Club is comfortably located in a romantic
looking building, surrounded oy or so of
ground at Bay Ridge, and has also good-szcd basin
there. from which it realizes handsome profit tor
storing boats In winter But yacht-Owners complain
that the bottoms their vessels seriously aec,ei
by the sudge acid ths floats the surface of the
water and which eats on the OF copper al the
witer line. Then too, ths anchoraye is somewhat
unsafe, il is in the path OF the many steamers ply
log between the Battery and Bag Ridge.
When completed the house of the American Yacht
Club at Milton Point on Lolg Island Sound, will be
an ideal place for club members aud their trends TO
gather for days cutting. and II is admirably coated
fer q soppn place for yachtsmen cruising through
the Sound but il will never do every day resort
and anchorage Tor who wish 10 have their boats
where they can use them whenever the spirit moves
them" The majority OF yacht.owners arc men who
seldom shake of the of business tor than
day or two at o time during the summer, and vet are
at liberty after o'clock every afternoon IL Is after
this hour that they take their recreation the
water; and they compelled to travel to Rye or
Larchmout or New-Rochee to get their boats there
would be little daylight lett in which to take their
sail.
Let them have tlisfr boats when wanted brought
down to the city by the sailing master and anchored
at some point more cO1venient suggests some one OF
the projectors OF the club-hOuses and anchorages on
the Sound To this there are two great objections. Ia
the first place the yachtsman is never sure just when
he SdOes does not want his boat owing TO the I'M
certainty of his engagements ashore and the con
ditons OF the weather; and in the second place, he
has discovered If he owns sailing vessel. that
buckiug" tides and lodging steamers la the East
River is rather too precarions to be pleasant.
Most OF the member. OF the New-York and Seawan-
haka clubs who own boats, aud whose wish ought
therefore be law Though it seldom is in favor
OF watersi1e houses tor their respective clubs some
where either the Upper or Lower Bay. Both clubs
have money enough In their Golfers to CRAFTY their
desires this direction but the great difficulty Is the
choice OF site Bay Ridge, StapetOn. Coney lsaad
Point and the Horseshoe have respectively their aiyo
Gates but so evenly divided that not enough can be
brought TO agree upon single place to decide the
matter. II. however the choice we're TO be narrowed
down 10 StaUeton and only of the other places II
Is probable that big majority would announte them
selves ia favor OF the Richmond County site
In view then. OF these Circumstances. WHY woulh IL
not DO n good plan Tor Mr. Wiman. who sesms dis
posed to let no chances slip for adding TO staten
Islands attractions, to build n handsome ana CON
m odou- c clubhouse and BASIN the Upper Bay side
of the island Oncc such accommo latiOns provided,
there is hardly question that they would be well
Datronizcl For the purpose vt restricting part cpa-
ton in the advantages to be derived 70 the people for
whom ihey we're intended. SIR. Wlman might bring
about the organization Of association OF the chlet
Yacht clubs II New-York and vicinity and let the
association make the rules governing the conduct OF
the establishment Each yacht club belonging to the
association would doubtless be willing TO pay a
reasonable sum for the OF the house aud enough
revenue could probably be derived from the sale OF
the restaurant and liquor privileges, and from the
charges storing ana caring for vessels IN the basn
to pay fair interest on the investment.
Yachtsmen would surely not be slow IN approaching
all these cOnysdences, situated snhn haIi-hogrs
Journey from the city, and the place would quickly
become a great yachting centre. In the deep water
aongshorc there il room enough Tor scores OF boats
Of all sizes to anchor well away from the track OF
II Mr. Wmln could enlist the sYmpatlics OF the New
York and Seawanhala clubs in such venture, It's
success would be assured.
Lieutenant Hem has at last discovered what has
been pa tent 10 all whv have watched the performance
of his handsome yacht that the Gaates is considerably
slower In anv kind OF weather than .hc big American
sloops Hitherto he has iained that the elements
have not been favorable to his craft, and that the
races in which she Ia, started have been little better
than drifting matches In which the "skimming
dishes" had. OF course great advantage. Az
Marbehead last Thursday he got just such weather as
lac has wished Tor and open sea course, where
tides and currents but trhiEg actors the cutter
again tell an easy prey her old antagonist, the May
flower The latter sailed over the thirty-six mile
couEy fourteen minutes and five seconds quicker THAI
her competitor and may be regarded as, al least that
much astor under all conditions.
II this be the case IL still fair conclusion that
the Boston " bean pot" rs shown in THE TRB
uNr fortnight ago is four minutes faster than the
Thistle TOR o Gal itel and Gencsta are regarded as
being evenly matched with tie odds ID favor OF inc
farmer and the Thistle Judging from her races thus
far il at best only tea minutes fas,er than the
Genesta.